Illuminating tooth-clamp.



S. F. BRANNAN.

ILLUMNATING TOOTH CLAMP. APPLICATION FILED AUGJG. 191s.

Patent-ed May 21,191'8..

onnron.

SAMUEL F. BRANNAN, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

ILLUMINATING TOOTH-CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ma 21, 1918.

Application filed August 16, 1915. Serial No. 45,800.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL F. BRANNAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Denver and State of I Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illuminating Tooth- Clamps; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an illuminating device adapted to be detachably applied to a tooth of the patient during the performance of dental work.

The object of my improvement is to provide a device of this character which shall retain its position when properly located in the mouth, without the aid of the operator, thus allowing him both hands for use in his work.

The device consists of a small clamp equipped with an incandescent lamp located in a circuit including electrical conductors carried by a cable which connects with the lamp and leads therefrom out of the mouth and to a low voltage battery, or other suitable source of electric current.

Having briefly outlined my improvement, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof. In this drawing,

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through the mouth, showing my illuminating clamp applied.

Fig. 2 is a view of the device shown on a somewhat larger scale. In this view the tooth to which the clamp is applied is indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33, Fig. 2, looking toward the right.

Fig. 4. is a detailed view of the clamp with the lamp removed.

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of the lamp detached from the clamp.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a clamp which may be made of flexible metal, whereby it is adapted when pressed against opposite sides of the tooth, to retain itself in place thereon. One side of this clamp is equipped with a small sleeve or socket thus adapted to receive a projection 7 extending downwardly from the socket 8 of an incandescent lamp 9. On the opposite side of this clamp from the sleeve 6, is located a hook 10 adapted to form a support for the cable 12 carrying the electrical conductors 13 and 1 1 belonging to the circuit in which the lamp 9 is located. Adjustably applied to the socket 8 of the lamp is a reflector 15. Specifically, this reflecting device is equipped with a spring clamp 16 which when applied circumferentially to the socket of the lamp, will retain the reflector in place thereon, the connection however being such that the reflector may be moved around the lamp as may be desired, in order to throw the light in any direction within the mouth which the operator may desire.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawing, the use of my improvement as well as its advantages will be readily understood. In this view the clamp 5 is applied to a tooth of the upper jaw, and the lamp 9 is so applied to the sleeve 6 of the clamp, that it extends upwardly above the tooth. The electric cable 12 is carried rearwardly from the lamp and passed around the rearmost tooth, and passed thence forwardly between the teeth and the adjacent wall of the mouth, and carried out of the mouth as shown in this view. Attention is called to the fact that the lamp is readily detachable from the sleeve or socket 6 of the clamp. The hook 10 is located between the tooth and the adjacent wall of the mouth on the side where the cable 12 passes, this hook forming a support for the cable as best illustrated in Fig. 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A tooth clamp equipped with an incandescent electric lamp on one side, electric conductors connected with the lamp, the opof whereby the patient can close his mouth posite side of the clamp having a support without removing the clamp from the'tooth. 0 for said conductors. In testimony whereof I aifix my signature 2. A dental appliance comprising a tooth in presence of two witnesses.

5 clamp formed of flexible material adapted SAMUEL F. BRANNAN.

to engage opposite sides of a tooth of the Witnesses: I patient, and an electric lamp detachably' GRACE HUsToN, secured to the tooth clamp at one side there- A. EBERT OBRIEN.

Copies of this patent may beobtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, .D. G. 

